Wallabies coach Robbie Deans rued Drew Mitchell’s send-off and inexplicable momentum-turning errors after feeling the pain of an eighth straight loss to the All Blacks.
Deans cut a disconsolate figure as New Zealand ruthlessly pounded his team 49-28 at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.
The seven-tries-to-three defeat was a massive step back after the advance of last week’s 30-13 win over South Africa.
Deans didn’t need All Blacks coach Graham Henry to point out he’d feel “very sad” if he were in the former Crusaders coach’s shoes.
“Personally if I had eight losses in a row I’d find it very difficult to handle to be frank,” Henry said. “You’d feel under a lot of heat, that’s the nature of international sport I guess.”
Deans was most pained by continued lapses in concentration from kick-offs, Mitchell’s 47 minutes off the field and particularly a momentum-turning charge down try.
Down 8-3 after Dan Carter had a clearing kick charged down by Mitchell, the All Blacks roared back to life from the restart when Carter scored from a Berrick Barnes charge down.
“Our challenge in the game, it’s a lot of little stuff. A charge down after a charge down score (that’s) easily averted and they’re the things we have to master.”
“We have an opportunity next week in Christchurch and you keep going and try to find some solutions.”
While NZ clinically took their chances and Australia conceded some soft tries, Deans pointed to Mitchell’s yellow cards as a major factor in their inability to claw back from 22-11 down midway through the first half.
“Once we were down to 14 men and we were playing for pride there was potential there for (the scoreline) to blow out,” Deans said.
“It could have been worse.”
Mitchell was sin-binned firstly for a shoulder charge on Richie McCaw that was picked up by the assistant referee, and then was again marched after the break for stripping Conrad Smith of the ball as he looked to take a quick lineout.
Never before in his career had the winger been sent off.
“I let everyone down out there and it’s not a nice feeling,” said Mitchell, who started the game so well with his eighth-minute try.
“It’s hard for me to take any joy from that at the moment, watching the game unfold like the way it did is not a pleasant feeling.
“It was gut-wrenching.”
In one piece of bad news for NZ, All Blacks halfback Jimmy Cowan is in doubt for Saturday’s clash in Christchurch with a rib cartilage injury.
© AAP 2012Recommend this story.
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- Drew Mitchell, Graham Henry, robbie deans, Rugby Union, wallabies
August 1st 2010 @ 5:51am
Hayden said | August 1st 2010 @ 5:51am | Report comment
You have to feel a certain sympathy for Mitchell – probably the softest sending off in history. But then again, Herr Joubert did issue a warning, and it seems the captain didn’t bother to pass it along. Despite his try, Elsom didn’t have a good game, his captain’s temperament was found wanting.
Where to now for the Wannabies? That was a good old fashioned dicking.
August 1st 2010 @ 8:21am
CraigB said | August 1st 2010 @ 8:21am | Report comment
2nd yellow was fair as he did warn the captains, but I am yet to see anything on he 1st yellow. The fact the TV couldn’t show us anything suggests an error was made
August 1st 2010 @ 9:42am
Mungehead said | August 1st 2010 @ 9:42am | Report comment
Actually the fact the TV couldn’t show us anything suggests nothing at all.
As regards the second card, Joubert had obviously decided that he needed to crack down hard on teams that offended by keeping the ball when they had no right to it, and that a card was the only method he had at his disposal. But I wonder whether yellow cards aren’t too extreme a punishment for the offense. Drew’s red card removed any chance of a fight back from the Wallabies, and it did spoil a very entertaining game. The ABs could happily ease off the throttle after that without sufferig any real risk.
The referee can march the team 10 metres for backchat on a penalty, mightn’t that be more appropriate for this kind of offense too? Just turn a free kick into a penalty, or march a penalty 10 metres up the sideline if the defending team doesn’t yield up the ball in a timely manner? IMO that would have the same effect on behaviour without using the yellow card sledgehammer.
August 1st 2010 @ 10:03am
Ben S said | August 1st 2010 @ 10:03am | Report comment
I’ve seen the first yellow. McCaw passes the ball and Mitchell hits him after the ball has gone, making no attempt to tackle. It was pretty weak, but clearly intentional and therefore an emphatically stupid thing to do.
August 1st 2010 @ 7:06pm
Lee said | August 1st 2010 @ 7:06pm | Report comment
Thanks Mungehead, just because we don’t see something on TV doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
Same outrage occured during the Crusaders Hurricanes game this year when Kaplan said he saw the try being scored and asked the TMO for a reason not to award the try. Because the cameras couldn’t see the ball being grounded it was ‘controversial’ despite the fact the ref who was right there saw the grounding.
August 1st 2010 @ 6:58pm
taylor bridge said | August 1st 2010 @ 6:58pm | Report comment
Rocky does not appear to have the skill or desire to be a capatain/ Be it negotiating with the ref, rally his men or play a role even half as capable as NcCaw. Surly and in the shadow of Richie McCaw’s ability. Maybe he would serve Austrailia better in the 2nd row replacing Dean Mumm . Honest Dean is regulaly suprised when he gets a quick unexpected pass. His skill level should permit him only to play in the second wave of attack as the spontaneity of an unscheduled pass is beyond him Just as in the SA game he keeps putting them down .
Scott Higginbotham must come in in Rocky’s place who can goto the tight five. and Matt Hodgson be ready If Richard Brown slips. Sometimes leaving a player like Elsom out and changing the leadership culture is what works.
August 2nd 2010 @ 7:31am
Dexter William said | August 2nd 2010 @ 7:31am | Report comment
Dean Mumm should not play period.
He is a soft cock and has no skills.
His father should put an end to both of their embarrassment.
Robbie Deans, How many more opportunities are you giving this big jello.
August 1st 2010 @ 6:19am
scarlet said | August 1st 2010 @ 6:19am | Report comment
Rocky’s no captain, but a damned good flanker. Mitchell was unlucky to have been carded twice, the first wasn’t reasonable but the second was, particularly after the very clear warning given to both captains.
The second row and back rows both played well for Australia but the front row was again found wanting, with Pocock and Brown both outstanding. Genia seemed to buckle a bit under pressure but Giteau seemed back to something approaching his old form.
It’s difficult to play well with 14 men for 50 minutes but the Wallabies did do very well considering that burden. The All Blacks are playing extraordinarily well and will hopefully be seen to be peaking a year out from the RWC again as the expectation mounts over their not having won since 87 and this one being at home after a series of disappointments in recent Cups.
One statistic that I wasn’t aware of was that the AB’s have won 2 out of 3 of their games against Australia since inception, which is pretty extraordinary.
August 1st 2010 @ 9:18am
Rockin Rod said | August 1st 2010 @ 9:18am | Report comment
Scarelet, i totally agree Rocky is no captain. Did you see when both captains were warned to tell their players no more slowing down a quick tap, richie spoke to his players , Rocky just grunted to his players and said nothing. What i am asking is did Drew really know the next time it happened was going to be a card and was he even on the fireld at this time or serving his first 10 in the bin? Any way POCOK is our future captain, why not give him the gig now, he is a true leader
August 1st 2010 @ 1:18pm
Nick_KIA said | August 1st 2010 @ 1:18pm | Report comment
Are you joking about Brown? He’s a complete liability if you ask me. Missed a number of critical tackles, didn’t make much impact with ball in hand. Similarly overrated to Spies.
August 1st 2010 @ 1:34pm
Jerry said | August 1st 2010 @ 1:34pm | Report comment
The only good thing Brown did all day was get smashed so bad by Franks he made it look like there were no arms.
August 1st 2010 @ 6:30am
Ben said | August 1st 2010 @ 6:30am | Report comment
Firstly full credit to the all blacks…wonderful performance. However another blogger pointed out there must be something wrong from the the top in this Wallaby outfit….how could there be so many rediculously stupid penalties and send offs from the Wallaby backline. From Cooper last week to mitchel this week…there is no discipline. This has to be Deans and the coaching staff’s fault. Then when it happens they tend to over react….drop Mitchel from the 22…and then bring him back.
I really hope Rocky gave Mitchel and Barnes and bloody good bollocking….old school. The game felt over to me the second Barnes kicked into Carter….that was more than a momentum stopper….you could see the forwards faces. I feel for Pocock and Rocky, even Brown (though totally outmatched) they never stoped trying….and when we brought on Saia and Simmons the intensity seemed to go up. Strangely JOC seems to be the most mature of the bunch.
I think Deans needs to excert the disapline throughout the process, not when the bomb has already gone off….stop giving these guys excuses..its fine for giteau to lose two test with simply kicks….its bloody not….and No Carter and Wilkinson do not ever miss those ones and if you cant kick it then the 80% strike rate doesnt mean anything. Deans needs to stop talking in Mimicks and prose and be more direct (Stop screwing up or your gone…simple….kick the bloody thing out…kick it over from in front…etc etc) this is the stuff that is losing us games…I personally am tired of Deans talking about the journey and the score doesnt matter and long as we are moving in the right direction….thats fine until you cant kick it out or have to play with 14…..
Enough rant….I am sure Deans is a fine fine coach but he really cant seem to get through to these guys. It really may be time for Link and Genia to take over…at least with Genia when his Reds screwed up, gave it to them…and they responded.
August 1st 2010 @ 6:45am
kovana said | August 1st 2010 @ 6:45am | Report comment
What was Mitchell Yellow carded for the first time?
Also that try by Richie Mccaw?. How in the World did that ball squirt out on the AB’s side. Again some very poor officiating.
August 1st 2010 @ 9:43am
Bryan Mitchell said | August 1st 2010 @ 9:43am | Report comment
It was a late, no arm tackle on McCaw, they showed it after the game several times. Just another brain fart.
God I am so frustrated with that game. Barnes, why did you kick? The player attacking was commited and you looked like you would sell the dummy but instead you just booted it into him.
Am I going to see a match played with 15 on 15 in the Tri Nations?
August 1st 2010 @ 7:12am
Moaman said | August 1st 2010 @ 7:12am | Report comment
Ted(Henry)need not have nightmares about the prospect of losing 8 in-a-row to Australia;after about the 2nd…maybe 3rd loss he would be given a cyanide pill I suspect!
August 1st 2010 @ 7:14am
ohtani's jacket said | August 1st 2010 @ 7:14am | Report comment
I thought Deans was going to cry in the press conference. He looked like a mother asking for her child to be returned.
August 1st 2010 @ 7:18am
darwin stubby said | August 1st 2010 @ 7:18am | Report comment
What ever way you look at it – you’ve got to take your hat of to Henry – he’s truly a fantastic coach … and he certainly knows how to stick the boot in as well
August 1st 2010 @ 7:21am
Moaman said | August 1st 2010 @ 7:21am | Report comment
I agree about the boot DS! Made me laugh when I read that! You could just picture those eyebrows working in tandem,that Mona Lisa smile..;-)
August 1st 2010 @ 7:27am
darwin stubby said | August 1st 2010 @ 7:27am | Report comment
yeah – esp as everyone knows, as would he, no way in hell would he have got to 8 in a row … reckon deans would have killed him off with 3 on the trot …
I see Cowan may well be out next week – Weepu will fil that hole easily … watched the Manawatu / Southland game yesterday and while wasn’t a great result for us green & white fans – think we may have another AB in the making, he’s certainly not ready yet, but Manawatu’s halfback, Aaron Smith, has class written all over him
August 1st 2010 @ 7:31am
Sam Taulelei said | August 1st 2010 @ 7:31am | Report comment
DS what do you think about Waikato’s backup half Tawera Kerr-Barlow? He’s a livewire well suited to the new rule interpretations as well.
I have been one of the staunchest critics of the adoration from Aussies of Robbie Deans as I felt it was disproportionate to what he’s actually achieved in comparison to Ted but last night I truly felt for him at that press conference. He’s a proud man, a good coach and that result was devastating.
August 1st 2010 @ 12:26pm
darwin stubby said | August 1st 2010 @ 12:26pm | Report comment
Haven’t seen him Sam – will definitely keep an eye out for him
August 1st 2010 @ 7:33am
CK said | August 1st 2010 @ 7:33am | Report comment
I’m still trying to figure out how MItchell was carded the first time for a dangerous tackle, when he was the attacking player. Second one, fair enough, but the red was a joke, as was the yellow on the AB’s prop. Isn’t time the IRB accept that rugby is a contact sport, and shoulder charging should be legal?
August 1st 2010 @ 9:45am
Mungehead said | August 1st 2010 @ 9:45am | Report comment
Justice 4 Bakkies!
August 1st 2010 @ 10:26am
Hayden said | August 1st 2010 @ 10:26am | Report comment
I agree that the refs are going too far. Whitelock was nearly sent from the field ( saved only because he couldn’t be identified ) for a terrific driving tackle that knocked his man backwards. I hope this isn’t some IRB induced effort to ‘sanitize’ the game before the WC, like they did with rucking in 99.
August 1st 2010 @ 7:40am
Moaman said | August 1st 2010 @ 7:40am | Report comment
What did you guys think of the coverage? I was frustrated with the camera-work myself…vital replays not shown,odd angles at times etc. The Franks shoulder-charge an example of that…and did we get a good look at the Mitchell charge??
Aaron Smith looked sharp for the Maori v England DS.I think Cowan/Weepu very similar and will be interesting to see Alby(next week) or someone else emerge as a point of difference.Leonard has a chance to shine in the ITM Cup too…..
August 1st 2010 @ 8:15am
BennO said | August 1st 2010 @ 8:15am | Report comment
Agree about the camera angles. I have a suspicion that all rugby games (league and union) I’ve seen played at etihad are the same.